Treatment of peat fiber.



No. 730,155. i PATENTED JUNI: 2, 1,7903.

G. PY. TREATMENT 0F PEATPIBER.

` AAIPPLICAIION IILLD JULY 3o', 1900.'

N0 MODEL.

rin: anni vergas no.e wumhmi. wAsmgfcmu. upg? no. asoma UNITED STATES f Patented J' une 2, 1903.

GEORGES PY, or. PARIS, FRANCE.

TREATMENT OF PEAT FIBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,155, dated .Tune 2,1903. Application fueaJulj 30,1960. saisine. 25,326. me Specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGES PY, chemist, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 68 Rue du Landy, Plaine' St. Denis, Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of Peat Fiber, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of peat fiber, and has for its chief object the rapid and economical conversion of peat fiber into fleece for use either alone or with any other textile material, a larger proportion vof fleece being obtained from the quantity of peat used than has hitherto been accomplished.

Hitherto the processes employed for the treatment of peat have only concerned the separation and utilization of vegetable fiber already isolated by the partial fermentation to which plants are subjected during the formation of peat. This separatiomeffected by successive cardings, has the great commercial objection that a small yield of useful fiber and a large amount of waste material are obtained, this objection being greater when the manufacture of the fiber takes place at some distance from the locality where the peat is obtained.

Now the present process is a retting process, in which the complete extraction of all useful separable or ligneous fibers is obtained by a chemical process and remarkable absorbent properties are imparted to such fibrous material, while also rendering the said material suitable for carding, combing, spinning, or Weaving. The fleece produced by this process of treatment does not require special machines for Working it and can be used either alone or in combination or conjunction with other textile materials of manufacture.

According to the present invention thel fibrous material after it has been beaten to free it from earthy matter and the stalks,roots, and foreign substances have been removed is first subjected to the action of an alkaline solution. Afterbeing removed from this solution and Washed the said fibrous material is treated under pressure with a Weak solution of sulfuric acid. It is then allowed to drain and afterward heated in a strong solution. The fibrous material is rendered neutral by means of an alkali and softened by soapy water.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect,the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood that this drawing is by way of example` only, illustrating means whereby the process may be carried into practice.

rlhe brous material freed from dirt and earthy matter is introduced into a double cylinder A, preferably constructed of enamelediron plates. The inner cylinder a is perforated and is rotated ineither direction around its axis a by suitable gearing, while .the external cylinder b is stationary and constructed in such a manner as to be capable of supporting a pressure of about four kilograms per square centimeter. The said cylinder is supplied with water, steam, and the requisite chemicals through pipes c CZ e, respectively. A sufficient quantity of water rendered alkaline by the addition of potash, lime, soda, or-.ammonia is admitted to the cylinder in sufcient quantity to submerge the fibrous material therein. The weight of the alkali used in the .bath is preferablytwoper cent. of the weight of the fibrous material undertreatine'nt. When the action of this alkaline solutionhas reached the necessary limit, it is run off,'and the brous material is rinsed or wash ed once or twice with water and afterward subjected to the action, under pressure, of' from two to three per cent. solution of sulfuric acid. The duration of this operation may vary from one-half hour to two hours, according to the height of the pressure or to the strength of the acid-bath. The fibrous material is afterward removed from the cylinder, allowed` to drain, and then subjected to the action of a strong solution of oxalic, hydrochloric, or sulfuric acid. The concentration of the said acids may vary from 45 Baume to 19o Baume, according to -whether the troughs are furnished with lead serpentine tubes permittingv an-elevation of temperature. The action of the acids under heat requires Watching very carefully, because a maximum concentration, for example, of 450 coinciding with an elevation by one degree might cause the alteration and even the destruction of the fibrous material. After removing the fibrous material from the acidfulling-trough, rinsing-barrel, or other apparatus, in which the said material is neutralized by the addition of an alkali and t-hen rendered supple by means of soapy water. This last operation of washing must produce a slight felting action of the fibrous material.

The fibrous material thus purified is now isolated and clean and free from the excess of earthy derivatives and resinous matters without, however, losing its most essential property-viz. that of resisting microbic fermentation. For its conversion into fleece the fibrous material is subjected, first, to a beating operation and then to a carding action in an appropriate carding-machine, which may or may not be furnished with movable cards designed to sustain and give a greater cohesion to the nap. According to the fineness desired to be given, a teazing-cylinder with a ventilator may or may not be employed.

IVhen the fleece is intended for surgical purposes, the fibrous material is subjected to a special combing operation in any convenient apparatus for freeing it of all dust and Woody matter that have remained. This fleece is made up into packets wrapped in impermeable bacteriological paper and is steril ized at 134 centigrade underpressure, and if not required for immediate use is wrapped in paraffin-paper and sealed either with paraffin, wax, or any suitable adhesive resinous substance which is soluble in alcohol.

If it is desired to completelybleach the peat fiber, I agitate it in a five-per-cent. soda solution under a pressure of two to four kilos per square centimeter until the whole of the earthy derivatives soluble in alkalies have been removed, after which the bleaching op eration may be completed by any of the usual processes.

What I claim isl. A process for the treatment of peat fiber to obtain a fleece, consisting in subjecting the said fiber to the action of analkali solution, washing it and treating it under pressure with a Weak solution of acid, then draining it and heating it with a strong solution of acid, then Washing and neutralizing it, said alkali and acid solutions all having a temperature and degree of concentration insufficient to convert the iiber into a pulp.

2. A process for the treatment of peat ber to obtain a fleece, consisting in subjecting the said fiber to the action of a solution containing about two per cent. of the weight ol' the fiber of alkali, washing said fiber, subjecting said fiber for from 0ne-half hour to two hours to the action of a solution containing from two per cent. to three per cent. of acid, draining said liber, and subjecting said ber to the action of a solution at from 19 to 45 Baume of acid at a temperature to su fficiently accelerate the action of said acid, but not sufiicient to pulp the fiber, substantially as de scribed.

3. A process for the preparation ol' a fleece suitable for surgical purposes, consisting in subjecting mechanically-cleaned peat fiber to the action of an alkali solution, washing it and treating it under pressure with a weak solution of acid, then draining it and heating it with a strong solution of acid, then washing and neutralizing it, and afterward softening and felting it by means of soapy water, the aforesaid alkali and acid solutions all having a temperature and degree of concentration insufficient to convert the fiber into a pulp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of July, 1900.

GEORGES PY.

Witnesses:

HENRI CLAUZIER, EDWARD P. MACLEAN. 

